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Visit Manchester

Manchester is a world renowned sporting City, not only home to two of the world's leading football clubs, but also home of some of country's leading athletics, cricket, netball, rugby, squash, swimming and water polo clubs and the all conquering British Cycling team.

Manchester is the host to National Centres for Cycling, Lacrosse, Squash, Taekwondo and Water Polo.

Recognition for Manchester's commitment to sport and the Major Sports Events programme has seen the city receive four awards in 2012 including:

Best Sports City for Legacy in the Ultimate Sports City rankings

Best Sport City in 'small city' category (population less than 1 million)

Ranked 5th in the overall rankings of the 'World's 25 Ultimate Sport Cities' by SportsBusiness Magazine

Sport Participation Event of the Year and the Sport Industry Awards for Manchester's Great Day of Sport.

Over recent years, Manchester has achieved an impressive reputation with regards to sporting events. Boasting events including Bupa Great Manchester Run, Paralympic World Cup, the record breaking GB vs USA Basketball games and the involvement around London 2012; which saw Manchester as home to Olympic and Paralympic teams from Australia, Brazil and Thailand.

Manchester Major Sports Events Strategy identifies how the Sports Events team develop relationships with National Governing Bodies of the key 19 sports as well as working alongside the Sports Development and Education teams to ensure city development and community engagement.

For more information, click here to visit the 'Visit Manchester' website.

Manchester Volunteer Sport Bureau

The Manchester Volunteer Sport Bureau (MVSB) identifies, trains and deploys volunteers to support sport and physical activity within Manchester. The Bureau recruits people from all backgrounds, developing their skills and signposting them to opportunities within sports events, sports clubs, local communities and schools. There are hundreds of opportunities available with some of our main providers being Manchester City FC, British Cycling and Manchester Sports Event Team.

The Bureau is an online system of which participants can sign up to the service. Volunteers will work with sports development and during an induction process, will highlight their area of interest for volunteering as well as future employment, forming an online Personal Development Programme. From this data, the participants will be signposted to volunteering opportunities of their choice as well as being encouraged to redeploy into other volunteering activities. They will also be advised on relevant training and encouragement into future employment. The programme is delivered through Sport Education Team and access all education and community sectors across the city.

The Manchester Volunteer Sport Bureau (MVSB) is recognised as a leading project in the North West contributing to the 2012 Olympics & Paralympic Programme, of which has created a lasting legacy towards volunteering within Manchester.

For more information and to register, please visit www.manchestervsb.org or email c.abel@manchester.gov.uk

Manchester Storm

Manchester Storm ARLFC were formed in July 2008 by the Rugby League development officer Sebastian Rowe and Manchester school teacher Martin Birrell. The currently operates one Under 16’s team playing in the North West Counties 13-15’s league. Early training sessions were spent teaching the playing the basics of the sport including the need not to pass the ball forward.

The first season was difficult for the club as they struggled to come to terms with the experienced sides from Rugby League heartland areas but as 2010 came around a new Storm was born.

Then as an under 13’s side the team went undefeated for the first 6 months of the season reaching the cup semi finals and leading the table for quite some time. In the end the team only managed to hold onto second place which was still good enough to seal promotion to the division above.

The 2010/11 season brought a watershed moment in the clubs short history as despite competing at a higher level the now Under 14’s side secured a second consecutive promotion at the expense of some well known established amateur clubs. The real highlight of the season however was reaching the North West Counties development cup final where a 42-4 victory over Warrington’s Bank Quay Bulls yielded the clubs first ever piece of silverware and history had been made. The club were granted a private visit with the Lord Mayor of Manchester at the town hall and the Mayor himself took time out to attend the showpiece final event on the day when Manchester’s two football clubs met at Wembley in the FA Cup semi final.

The new season has just begun and the future remains bright for the club who have just moved into their new base at the multi million pound sports facility at Wright Robinson College in the Gorton area of East Manchester. During the summer the team trains on Phillips Park which sits in the shadow of the Etihad stadium.

One of the clubs greatest achievements is having three players that now form part of the Salford City Reds Under 15’s scholarship team as the club looks to produce the first Manchester born super league players for a generation. Look out for the names Albert Keeling, Jubril Olajide and Sam Mason coming to a super league ground near you soon!

The club are always on the look out for new players and volunteers so anyone interested should log onto the club websitewww.manchesterstormrl.co.uk for further information.

Mancunians RL

Founded in 2009 by a group of Manchester rugby league fans frustrated with the progress of the sport in this city, it cannot be denied that the club was ambitious. In just over a year the club had won their first piece of silverware in becoming North West Regional Champions.

Based in South Manchester, the club makes the most of the surroundings areas. Being so close to one of the most popular student areas in the country allows the club to build links with the universities. Likewise they offer an alternative to the student game for those seasoned professionals in further education who fancy a challenge away from the student game.

One of their aims is to get as many people from Manchester itself playing. One of the philosophies at Mancunians is that there are enough athletes in what is essentially England's second city to make a decent fist of producing some top class players.

In the spirit of spreading awareness, Mancunians RL take the game into schools – many pupils having never heard of the sport never mind played it. Last year the club also launched the street rugby scheme in estates around Broughton Park. It was effective in spreading word quickly around local kids and gained the support of Greater Manchester Police in helping reduce anti-social behaviour. The aim is to make the game as accessible and – more importantly - as fun as possible, so they return time after time.

Mancunians RL aim to make supporting Rugby League in Manchester a community event. For more information on Mancunians RL visit www.mancuniansrl.com

Rugby League in Manchester

Manchester’s involvement with Rugby League has grown rapidly with the city now being home to two Rugby League teams; Mancunians RL and Manchester Storm. Events like the Magic Weekend and the Rugby League World Cup are vital to creating awareness about the sport and local teams.

NORTH - Leave M60 at Junction 12 M602 (Salford/Manchester). At the end of the M602 (Junction 3) follow signs for Salford Quays & Trafford Park. At the roundabout turn right onto Trafford Road (A5063). At the bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal, keep in the right-hand lane, turn right and follow the road round to Trafford Wharf Road, then left at the trafﬁc lights onto Waters Reach. Turn right at the trafﬁc lights onto Wharfside Way and follow signs for specific MUFC car parks.

SOUTH - Leave the M6 at Junction 19 and take the A556 in the direction of Manchester Airport. Continue onto the M56 to Manchester, passing the Airport, and follow the signs to the M60 (North & West). Leave the M60 at Junction 7 (A56 Chester Road) and follow the signs for Manchester United (Sir Matt Busby Way is closed from Chester Road on match days).

Car Parking

If you’re visiting Old Trafford on a non matchday, you can park in our secure car parks free of charge. To buy car parking for any match please click here.

By Bus

Frequent buses run from Manchester city centre (Piccadilly Gardens) to Old Trafford, with buses also running from South Manchester direct to the ground. Transport for Greater Manchester can help you find out more about the best services to use and help you plan your journey to each match.

Visit www.tfgm.com/rlwc for a journey planner, view maps and timetables and to find out more about special shuttle services which may also run to some of the venues on match days.

Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations. North Western Trains operate a service from City centre stations direct to Old Trafford Stadium where the station is located alongside the South Stand. It is advisable to telephone National Rail Enquiries on: 0845 748 4950 for train times. www.nationalrail.co.uk

Tram

The nearest Metrolink tram stops are Old Trafford, Trafford Bar and Exchange Quay which are all within easy walking distance of the ground and accessible from Manchester city centre Metrolink stops including Piccadilly and Victoria. Local, regional and national trains run into city centre stations which connect with Metrolink services.

Transport for Greater Manchester can help you find out more about the best services to use and help you plan your journey to each match.

Visit www.tfgm.com/rlwcfor a journey planner, view maps and timetables and to find out more about special shuttle services which may also run to some of the venues on match days.

Manchester’s ever expanding bedroom stock in the city offers the variety and choice to meet the expectations of any discerning visitor. Stay close to the action with a variety of options available for all visiting Rugby League fans!

Accommodation in the city is represented on all levels ranging from 5* hotels, self catered apartments and guest houses. This allows Manchester to guarantee quality and the necessary service to meet the needs of Manchester’s tourists.